Match-safe



(No Model.)

W. B. MITCHELL. MATCH SAFE.

No. 409,055. 4 U Patented Aug. 13, 1889..

[ME/V202? N. PETERS. Pnnm-ueiwn mr. Washington, ac.

UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

\VICKLIFF B. MITCHELL, OF OIVENSBURG, INDIANA.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,055, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed January 30, 1889. Serial No. 298,085. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I VIOKLIFF B. MITCH- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensburg, in the county of Greene and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes; and I do declare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved match-safe, showing the same secured to the back supporting-piece. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the back piece of the safe. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the match-safe, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through. the entire device.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My invention has relation to match-safes; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully pointed out and described.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A rep resents the match-safe proper, provided at its upper end with an opening B. An inclined adapted to engage a lip a on the front of the safe and thereby lock said cover.

The safe A is further provided with an inclined bottom piece D, having an elongated slot 61 therein. The lower or bifurcated ends of this bottom piece are cut away from the side pieces of the safe, forming flexible strips d d, which extend out beyond the front piece of said safe, and are then curved downwardly, as shown at 61 This construction enables the matches to be removed without difficulty, inasmuch as the extended curved portions of the flexible strips form a slide or incline therefor, it being obvious that said matches may be more readily withdrawn when this construction is employed thanif the ends of the flexible strips met abruptly at an angle with the lower edge or end of the front piece, and, furthermore, it also lessens the liability of'accidental ignition of the which, in connection with the slot in the in-- clined bottom D, forms a convenient means for the insertion of the fingers in grasping the matches, when it is desired to remove the same.

The back-supporting portion is represented by the letter F, and is provided with the transverse slits ff, the intermediate bulged portion f being formed between said slits, the latter being adapted to receive the tongue or proj ection G, soldered or otherwise secured to the back of the match-safe. The front face of the supporting-plate is also provided with the forwardly-extending flanges f f forming ways in which the safe slides in attaching the same to said supporting-plate, and also adapted to prevent the lateral displacement of the safe.

The lower portion of the plate F is ,provided on its side and bottom edges with ways f for the purpose of receiving sand-paper or other rough material, thus forming a convenient means for striking or lighting the match, and, further, affording a convenient means for the removal of the sand-paper or its equivalent after it has become too worn or soiled for effective use and readily replenishing the same.

In practice I prefer to construct my improved match-safe of tin, brass, or similar material possessing sufficient elasticity to give the requisite resiliency to the spring portion d d thereof. This material may be bronzed or j apanned to give an artistic finish to the same, thus producing an ornamental device. I also prefer to construct the safe of sufficient size to admit of its containing an entire box of matches of the ordinary capacity, which is found to be a convenient and safe arrangement, lessening the liability of fire by reason of broken boxes of matches being exposed about the premises.

My invention possesses the particular advantage of providing means whereby the contents may be removed from the box singly without dropping or scattering the same.

In adjusting my improved device to the wall or other portion of the room, the back plate F is first secured in position by tacks or equivalents being driven through suitable holes in the upper and lower portions thereof. The tongue or projection G is then passed through the slits, which is readily accomplished without said tongue coming in contact with the wall by reason of the intermediate bulged portion, which forms a corresponding depression on the rear face of the plate.

In inserting the matches it is desirable that they should be placed within the receptacle straight, as otherwise their ready removal would be retarded. If, however, they should become crossed, they may be easily straightened by running the fore-finger up the slot under and back of safe, and then bringing the matches down to proper place.

For the sake of convenience I prefer to form the body of my improved safe from one piece or blank and soldering or otherwise suitably securing the meeting edges-that is to say, I provide a blank of proper size, and then cut the same so that when the blank is folded the front piece thereof will be formed with the circular opening, while the bottom will be slotted longitudinally, as shown in the drawings. The piece or blank is then readily folded, thus forming the front, rear, and side pieces and the inclined bottom of the same sheet of metal, the meeting edges, as stated, being soldered together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with a back-support ing plate provided with a slitted upper portion having intermediate bulged portion, and also provided with forwardly extending guides or flanges, of the match safe or box consisting of the front, rear, and side pieces, inclined bottom piece, and inclined hinged top or cover, the front piece thereof being provided with a circular opening upon its lower end and the bottom piece being slotted longitudinally, forming flexible strips or springs, substantially as set forth.

2. A match-safe provided with an inclined 1ongitudinally-slotted bottom piece, terminating in flexible strips, said strips extending out beyond the front piece of the safe and bent downward at this point, said front piece being provided with an opening or aperture, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VVIOKLIFF B. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

II. T. FIELDS, J. M. MCDOWELL. 

